Musk holds Zelensky responsible for death of US journalist
Elon Musk has alleged that Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky is responsible for the "killing" of American journalist Gonzalo Lira. Read the full article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The claim that the Ukrainian leader “killed” Gonzalo Lira has been made by a close ally of former President Donald Trump.
Elon Musk, a billionaire and significant supporter of Trump, accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of responsibility for the death of an American citizen who had been critical of the Ukrainian government.
Gonzalo Lira, a Chilean-American filmmaker and blogger, died in January 2024 while in a Ukrainian jail, where he was awaiting trial for “systematically justifying the Russian aggression.”
“Zelensky killed an American journalist!” Musk expressed on his social media platform X on Wednesday.
“Zelensky cannot claim to represent the will of the people of Ukraine unless he restores freedom of the press and stops canceling elections!” he added.
Lira had relocated to Ukraine in 2010 and was documenting the conflict with Russia on YouTube. In 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine apprehended him after he forfeited his bail and attempted to seek asylum in Hungary. Lira maintained that he experienced torture while in detention, and his family accused the Kiev government of complicity in his death. The Ukrainian authorities, however, denied any wrongdoing.
Lira’s father, Gonzalo Lira Sr., implied in December 2023 that the Biden administration may have provided “at least tacit approval of Gonzalo’s arrest.”
Musk's criticism of Zelensky comes amid an ongoing public dispute between the Ukrainian president and Trump, which intensified after various Ukrainian and EU officials condemned Trump for initiating direct negotiations with Russia without consulting them.
Trump labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and asserted that he is profoundly unpopular in Ukraine. In turn, Zelensky has accused Trump of engaging in ‘Russian disinformation.’
Zelensky’s five-year presidential term was set to end in May 2024; however, due to martial law, no elections were organized. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he no longer acknowledges Zelensky as a legitimate leader, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently confirmed that Moscow wishes to address the matter of Zelensky’s legitimacy in upcoming peace discussions.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
Elon Musk, a billionaire and significant supporter of Trump, accused Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky of responsibility for the death of an American citizen who had been critical of the Ukrainian government.
Gonzalo Lira, a Chilean-American filmmaker and blogger, died in January 2024 while in a Ukrainian jail, where he was awaiting trial for “systematically justifying the Russian aggression.”
“Zelensky killed an American journalist!” Musk expressed on his social media platform X on Wednesday.
“Zelensky cannot claim to represent the will of the people of Ukraine unless he restores freedom of the press and stops canceling elections!” he added.
Lira had relocated to Ukraine in 2010 and was documenting the conflict with Russia on YouTube. In 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine apprehended him after he forfeited his bail and attempted to seek asylum in Hungary. Lira maintained that he experienced torture while in detention, and his family accused the Kiev government of complicity in his death. The Ukrainian authorities, however, denied any wrongdoing.
Lira’s father, Gonzalo Lira Sr., implied in December 2023 that the Biden administration may have provided “at least tacit approval of Gonzalo’s arrest.”
Musk's criticism of Zelensky comes amid an ongoing public dispute between the Ukrainian president and Trump, which intensified after various Ukrainian and EU officials condemned Trump for initiating direct negotiations with Russia without consulting them.
Trump labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and asserted that he is profoundly unpopular in Ukraine. In turn, Zelensky has accused Trump of engaging in ‘Russian disinformation.’
Zelensky’s five-year presidential term was set to end in May 2024; however, due to martial law, no elections were organized. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he no longer acknowledges Zelensky as a legitimate leader, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently confirmed that Moscow wishes to address the matter of Zelensky’s legitimacy in upcoming peace discussions.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
